Blog Posts by NCI Principal Deputy Director Dr. Douglas R. Lowy

In posts written for Cancer Currents Blog and NCI Bottom Line: A Blog about Grants and More, Dr. Douglas R. Lowy highlights his vision for NCI, meetings with and partnerships in the cancer community, strategic and scientific initiatives to advance cancer research and care, and funding and grants news.

NCI's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Challenges and Interim Paylines Explained

Posted on November 15, 2023
In this post, NCI Acting Director Dr. Lowy describes key challenges that the “flat” budget under NIH's short-term continuing resolution presents to NCI and its effects on NCI’s ability to support cancer research. He also discusses newly announced interim paylines for competing grants.
Cancer Grand Challenges Invites Global Teams to Submit Research Proposals

Posted on April 6, 2023
Drs. Lowy and Singer discuss the new round of nine research challenges as part of the Cancer Grand Challenges program and invite international, interdisciplinary teams to submit Expressions of Interest by June 22, 2023. In 2024, up to four teams will each receive about $25 million across five years to conduct their research.
Cancer Moonshot Scholars: Tapping a Deep Pool of Talent

Posted on September 21, 2022
In this edition of the NCI Bottom Line blog, Drs. Lowy and Springfield provide details on the innovative Cancer Moonshot program and encourage eligible Early-Stage Investigators to apply to become a Cancer Moonshot Scholar.
Raising the R01 Payline and Funding Other NCI Priorities

Posted on September 14, 2022
NCI Acting Director Dr. Lowy and NCI Associate Director for Finance and Legislation Patrick McGarey explain why raising the R01 payline to the 15th percentile by fiscal year 2025 and supporting more R01 grant awards is a top priority for NCI. They also discuss why allocating funds for this priority must be balanced with maintaining other critical NCI programs extramural scientists rely on to support their research.

NCI Initiatives on the Human Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2

Posted August 5, 2020
Following up to her most recent NCI Bottom Line post, Dr. Dinah Singer, along with Dr. Doug Lowy, provides readers an update on SeroNet, and expands on three additional components of the network. In addition to the Centers of Excellence and serological sciences projects, Drs. Lowy and Singer provide in-depth details about the SeroNet Serology Lab, Serological Sciences Capacity Building Centers, and a SeroNet Coordinating Center.
Welcome to NCI Bottom Line: A Blog about Grants and More!

Posted: September 12, 2019
For this inaugural blog post, NCI Bottom Line editors spoke with NCI Acting Director, Dr. Douglas R. Lowy, about why NCI is launching a new blog on everything you ever wanted to know about grants and how NCI funds its grants portfolio. In this Q&A, Dr. Lowy shares his vision for keeping the extramural community informed and engaged on NCI grants and funding policies.
Building on Success, Maximizing Opportunities: NCI’s Annual Plan & Budget Proposal

Posted: September 4, 2019
NCI Acting Director Douglas Lowy, M.D., discusses the institute’s Annual Plan & Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2021, which includes the institute’s professional judgement on the funding required to make the most rapid progress against cancer.
The Childhood Cancer Data Initiative: Transforming the Pediatric Cancer Landscape through Sharing Data

Posted: August 15, 2019
To prepare for the proposed Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, NCI sponsored a 3-day symposium that brought together pediatric cancer researchers, advocates, and other stakeholders.
The Childhood Cancer Data Initiative: Why Data Sharing Is Essential to Progress

Posted: June 12, 2019
NCI is laying the groundwork to develop the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI). NCI Acting Director Douglas Lowy, M.D., explains why an initiative with a focus on data sharing is essential to accelerating progress against childhood cancer.
Ensuring a Smooth Leadership Transition at NCI

Posted: April 10, 2019
Doug Lowy, M.D., a long-time researcher and deputy director at NCI, addresses the cancer community as the institute's acting director, a position he previously held for more than 2 years.
Making Greater Progress Against Cancer—Not Just a Hope but a Reality

Posted: April 21, 2017
Acting NCI Director Dr. Doug Lowy discusses what he calls encouraging news in the most recent Annual Report to the Nation and how NCI is helping to achieve further progress against cancer.
Cancer Moonshot Moves Forward, Bringing Funding Opportunities for Researchers

Posted: February 17, 2017
NCI has issued a series of funding opportunity announcements aligned with goals of the recommendations in the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot℠ Blue Ribbon Panel report released last fall.
Forging Collaborations to Spur Global Progress against Cancer

Posted: September 22, 2016
NCI and NIH announce efforts to establish international collaborations that can accelerate progress in reducing the global cancer burden.
Blue Ribbon Panel Report: The Power of the Cancer Community Coming Together

Posted: September 9, 2016
NCI Acting Director Dr. Douglas R. Lowy, M.D., thanks the cancer community for contributing to the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel report, which was presented to the National Cancer Advisory Board on September 7.
The Cancer Moonshot Summit: Reaching New Heights

Posted: June 30, 2016
A recap of the Cancer Moonshot national summit hosted by Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., on June 29, 2016, including a summary of the NCI-related activities that have been stimulated by the Cancer Moonshot.
The Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel: Moving Toward a Final Report

Posted: June 23, 2016
An update on the activities of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative’s Blue Ribbon Panel and its work to develop a final report for research ideas to be pursued under this initiative.
A Shared Commitment for Accelerating Progress with the Cancer Moonshot

Posted: April 20, 2016
At the AACR annual meeting, Vice President Biden spoke about the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the critical role the entire research community will play in accelerating progress against cancer.
President Obama’s Budget Request Affirms Commitment to Progress against Cancer

Posted: February 10, 2016
President Obama’s FY 2017 Budget Request includes $680 million to support Vice President Biden’s cancer research initiative.
Supporting Vice President Biden's Cancer Initiative

Posted: January 21, 2016
During his 2016 State of the Union address to Congress, President Obama tasked Vice President Biden with leading a new initiative to accelerate cancer research. This message from NCI Acting Director Doug Lowy states that the Institute stands ready to work with partners across the cancer research community on the initiative.
Progress against Cancer: The Role of Basic Science

Posted: October 8, 2015
Acting NCI Director Doug Lowy, M.D., discusses the critical contribution of basic science in fostering progress against cancer.
NCI Releases Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2017

Posted: September 17, 2015
The NCI Annual Plan and Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2017 provides an overview of NCI’s priorities and key initiatives and the institute’s funding request.
At NCI, A Continued Commitment to Supporting the Best Science

Posted: April 21, 2015
Yesterday, at the AACR annual meeting, Dr. Doug Lowy spoke directly to the research community about his goals as NCI Acting Director. Dr. Lowy said that he plans to continue many of the programs launched by his predecessor, Dr. Harold Varmus, and to sharpen the institute’s focus in several areas where he believes greater progress can offer significant dividends.
A Message to the Cancer Research Community

Posted: April 1, 2015
Doug Lowy, M.D., a long-time researcher and leader at NCI, greats the cancer research community as the institute's new acting director.